Hyperdimensional Player

Chapter 277 Duncan Throws the Elephant! The Assault on the Sanctuary!
The Midi Plain.

After defeating Chagatai Khan, Duncan did not make things difficult for him. Instead, he sent people to treat him well and brought him to his side.

Letting him go is impossible, and killing him directly is also inappropriate, so we'll just use him as a military advisor.

When all nomadic tribes submit to one will, they become the most terrifying army of the era. They are locusts, destroyers, and conquerors. The destructive power displayed by the unified nomads is astonishing. Before them was Attila the Scourge of God, and after them was Genghis Khan Temujin, whose destructive power was even more astonishing.

However, this time Duncan's conquest of the world was not to become emperor, but to solidify his status as a war god. Therefore, the nomads only conquered but did not rule, or rather, they were unable to rule effectively.

It is highly likely that these nomadic peoples of the East will become another Mongol Empire, unable to maintain it for too long.

The cost of effective governance is too high.

That would diminish Duncan's mystique as a deity; at least until the times change, there needs to be a certain boundary between humans and gods.

Those nomadic tribes, united under the will of the heavens, displayed an astonishing level of aggression. After Duncan annexed the tribe of Chagatai Khan, the army split into two routes and advanced directly. One route seized coastal port cities to pave the way for a future attack on the Gold Coast. The central part of this world was a continuous mountain range, which directly cut through the territory of the dwarves.

Another route, personally led by Duncan, headed straight for the capital of the Persian Empire.

He finally understood that this extended plane was the secondary battlefield of the Root World, the battle that hadn't been finished back then. The gods of the Root World had crushed the native gods here, and then gradually opened up branch bases.

The indigenous gods evolved together, becoming the precursors to the raging gods.

Unlike other human worlds, these extended planes are strongly connected to the original world.

More than 100,000 nomads marched forward triumphantly, and after defeating the nomads' vanguard several times, Xerxes II also assembled a large army to confront them at the fortress on the Median Plain.

—The Undead Legion (Mythical Unit) (Mitra's Army) (3-Star Silver Gray)!

As Duncan rode his horse, gazing into the distance, he could see a blurry, enormous phantom. The Zoroastrian gods had evolved in different ways in this world, and Mithras was undoubtedly the ultimate victor, most likely because he had become the mainstream faith in the Roman Empire.

Mithra later surpassed Mithra in this land, becoming the chief god of the eastern desert kingdoms, and he also left the world of origin very late.

"After this battle, we should be able to solidify our status as the God of War," Duncan said solemnly.

A tough nut to crack.

Mitra can be dealt with by the combined will of the heavens, but the undead army will require his personal intervention. If the combined forces cannot gain the upper hand against Mitra, Duncan will most likely have to resort to his ultimate ability.

"They seem to want to fight us on the plains!"

"This isn't right!"

Although Duncan didn't let him go, Chagatai Khan was also a veteran of many battles and couldn't stand the boring days. He took the initiative to ask to follow and said, "If they fight us on the plains, these Persians must have other preparations."

Losing to Duncan is not unjust, because that man is too terrifying.

Even though he was extremely strong in personal combat, a top-tier grassland warrior, he felt a sense of powerlessness when facing Duncan, much like Liu Bang faced Xiang Yu.

By Dungeons & Dragons standards, Chagatai Khan would be a legendary warrior around level 20, though he excels in mounted archery and possesses many abilities similar to those of Eastern cavalry. If he were to pray for divine favor during battle, that would be equivalent to the class level of an Eastern knight, granting him divine blessings.

In the mythical era, people could learn whatever they wanted, and the professional system had not yet been formally established.

"Ah."

Duncan nodded slowly and said, "They do look like they're going to have a showdown with us."

really.

The next day, the enemy lined up for battle. Squads of heavily armored, black-masked undead appeared, with Xerxes II directly in front of them. This man reminded Duncan of the Persian emperor at Thermopylae. He was a rather charismatic monarch who vigorously reformed Zoroastrianism and promoted the Mithraic faith, thus receiving divine favor and supposedly remaining ageless.

Form ranks!

At Duncan's command, infantry from various tribes and native warriors from the subcontinent advanced, while the cavalry dispersed to the flanks.

He turned to look at Chagatai Khan beside him and said in a deep voice, "Are you interested in commanding a cavalry unit?"

They actually dared to give him military power?

Chagatai Khan, his fighting spirit high, said in a deep voice, "Good."

Duncan entrusted six thousand elite cavalrymen from other tribes to his command, while he himself led the Torghut tribe to the front lines. This was a fair and square battle, and it was more like Mithras and Duncan's armies were facing off than Xerxes II was wielding the sword.

This was the first time he had faced the gods on the chessboard of war, using his army to decide the outcome.

wind!
The Eastern Rangers began to move. At Duncan's command, thousands of nomads began to run. His cavalry command was even more impressive than that of Attila the Scourge of God. As his old rival, Duncan's cavalry also stirred up storms, approaching like a gust of wind, and unleashing a rain of arrows in a circular formation.

Mountain!
There was a loud shout.

The Undead Army formed ranks and raised their shields, enduring all the damage. On their flanks and behind them, archers exchanged fire, counterattacking under the rain of arrows. This was a wise choice, as the archers had a longer range, but they lacked any mobility and would be routed once the cavalry got close.

"It really is the priests of Mithra in command!"

The riders behind Duncan galloped, the wind began to swirl in the center of the battlefield, the rangers in front dispersed to the sides, and the elite cavalry of the central army appeared, several hundred meters to the sides of the infantry.

This was Duncan's first time commanding such a large number of cavalry in battle. The nomads were poorly trained, so he couldn't employ any sophisticated formations.

"If only the Roman legions were here."

For the first time, Duncan understood Attila the Scourge's helplessness. Faced with heavily armored infantry arrayed in formation, he couldn't charge or retreat. The enemy engaged him in a war of attrition, trading infantry archers for horse archers. Mithras's formation resembled a tortoise shell, making it difficult to find a way to attack.

Even steel has to take a bite out of it!

"We must win this battle!"

"If I lose, my invincible status will be shattered."

"Moreover, the position of the God of War can only be taken from the God of War himself."

With the command flag waving behind Duncan, the scattered rangers, like spinning typhoons, completed a 180-degree rotation with a war command technique out of step with the times. Chagatai Khan, watching from afar, was dumbfounded; it was the first time he had ever seen anyone command cavalry to such an extent.

In the game's parlance, his S-rank cavalry command skills are unmatched by only a very few people in the world. They would all be at the level of the Scourge of God, Genghis Khan, or the Heavenly Khan. And those who have truly commanded massive cavalry forces are probably only the Huns and Mongols.

When facing a god, Duncan can only play it safe.

Mithras's influence began to spread, and this deity was disseminated within the Roman army. He was only accepted by men, and from God's perspective, there were many symbols, including a large raven, a bride, a soldier, a lion, Persia, and a father, etc. These were all religious hierarchies of Mithraism.

With a large number of priests mixed in with the army, Duncan was forced to deploy the grassland priesthood as well.

A gust of evil wind raged.

This is an Eastern adjective, which is actually similar to the sorcery of the Yellow Turban Army. However, the army at the front was not thrown into chaos because of this. The sun's rays were so dazzling that the entire battlefield seemed to be divided into two parts: one side was a storm and dark clouds, and the other side was the scorching sun.

They all look like villains no matter how you look at them.

But now it doesn't matter whether it's good or evil. This is a battle of faiths and a worldly showdown. Only the winner can decide history.

The sun god is born with a natural aura.

boom!
The infantry at the bottom had already clashed with the Undead Legion, and as Duncan had predicted, they quickly fell into a disadvantageous position and even suffered a rout. These were the first-tier heavy infantry, and they were even mythical units, so they were simply no match for them. It was estimated that only the barbarian berserkers could tear a gap in their ranks.

"Let Chagatai Khan attack the right flank and rear!"

Duncan handed the toughest challenge to Chagatai Khan; whether he submitted or not, he had to contribute to this battle.

"Come with me!"

Without deploying the main force of cavalry, it's impossible to shake the enemy's formation. The steppe infantry and native infantry are simply sent to their deaths; even if you send them in wave after wave, it will be of no use.

A black dragon flag fluttered in the wind.

As Duncan galloped away, a tempest raged across the grasslands behind him, and countless nomadic spirits emerged, following in the footsteps of the spirits on another battlefield, charging towards the enemy ahead.

To the naked eye, it appeared as if Duncan was being followed by a canopy of sky, which obscured the earth as he moved forward.

Fighting on two fronts!
Faced with the powerful Mithra, all spirits also went all out.

If we lose, we can simply shift our strategy.

boom!
The earth trembled.

Duncan personally commanded 10,000 elite cavalrymen, braving a hail of enemy arrows as they advanced, and then gave the order: "Armor-piercing heavy arrows!"

Behind him, a mighty cavalry force drew heavy arrows from the right side of their waists. They carried two quivers, one for armor-piercing and the other for long-range shooting, but the former had a short range and required them to charge through a hail of arrows to get close enough to penetrate the armor.

The infantry began a full-scale advance. After Duncan went into battle, Chagatai Khan remained inactive. His Torgut guards were extremely anxious and repeatedly urged him to go into battle. But Chagatai Khan calmly said, "No rush."

"Now is not the time!"

Others might not understand, but he certainly did. Duncan had handed him the decisive blow. If Chagatai Khan remained inactive, Duncan would be bogged down after the battle, and he might even be surrounded.

His magnanimity and composure impressed him somewhat.

But since Duncan has entrusted him with the heavy cavalry, he must achieve the greatest results. Now is not the time; he must wait for the enemy to reveal a weakness.

He was unaware that this battle was a duel against a god, but the enemy's command and control had already put immense pressure on him.

"Xerxes II possessed such methods?"

"How come I've never heard of him being skilled in commanding troops?" Chagatai Khan wondered.

The emperor was just a figurehead, used to boost the morale of the army.

The real commanders of the army were the father and the high priest of the Mithraic religion, while the mastermind behind the scenes was the will of Mithra.

boom!
A devastating collision erupted in an instant.

With no hope for the infantry, Duncan could only rely on his cavalry to seize the opportunity to break through the enemy lines. If the Imperial Guard were here, he would not be afraid of a head-on confrontation and could calmly command his cavalry to wait for the right moment.

Feigning defeat to lure the enemy is impossible; Mithra's army sees through everything.

"Break the formation!"

Duncan led the Khan's personal guards, braving a hail of arrows, and finally inflicted considerable casualties on the enemy. He then rode out and led the Khan's personal guards to break through the flank. However, even with his amazing strength, he was still unable to completely break through the enemy's formation. The enemy's tenacity was somewhat unexpected. They were seriously wounded but not dead and could still fight again.

hum!
A slight tremor came from the ground.

Chagatai Khan finally seized the opportunity. He led his six thousand iron cavalry to attack. The galloping warhorses were like a torrent. After Duncan tore open a gap, he charged directly into the enemy's rear, trying to surround the Undead Legion on the main battlefield.

The war elephants are neighing!

Mitra seemed to realize that something was wrong. These steppe cavalry were too fierce. A cavalry unit tried to intercept Chagatai Khan, while dozens of huge creatures appeared behind the army.

—Armored War Elephant (Mythical Legion) (Terrifying Enemy) (Four-Star Silver Gray)!

These behemoths are larger than African elephants, and they are equipped with arrow towers and sharpshooters, which can attack from a distance and frighten nearby warhorses.

—Persian Ironclad Cavalry (3-star silver-gray)!

The situation instantly reached a stalemate, and both sides entered the decisive stage. Mitra commanded his army flawlessly, and Duncan was encountering a military formation that even iron cavalry could not break through for the first time.

Then the only option is to use cheats.

Duncan roared, unleashing his berserk state and entering a rampage. The will of all spirits had already invaded the Mithra Kingdom, giving him an opportunity to disrupt the Mithra's divine command.

He led the Steppe Winds - the Khan's personal guards, charging towards the armored war elephants, those damned things were incredibly lethal.

Wherever they went, the nearby warhorses were frightened.

Just then, a crossbow bolt struck Duncan, and his warhorse neighed in pain. Then a javelin flew through the air, and Duncan leaped into the air, caught it, and threw it back, killing a unit with a special mark.

The Undead Legion remained as steadfast as a rock; as long as they did not retreat, the steppe cavalry would never be able to break through their defenses.

"Oh shit!"

"Have the Undead Legion taken drugs?"

Why is morale so low?

Even the gods are using cheat codes, so Duncan is going all out.

His figure surged forward, charging directly at an armored war elephant. Amidst the elephant's mournful cries, he grabbed its tusks with both hands, swung the massive creature, and swept it across the battlefield in a 360-degree arc.

In an instant, the sky was filled with figures of people being knocked away, even more exaggerated than in kung fu movies.

Subsequently.

Duncan struck a pose as if lifting something with one hand, like an ancient Greek champion, unleashing terrifying primal power. To the astonishment of countless onlookers, he hurled the armored elephant from his grasp.

Rumble!
The earth trembles.

The armored giant elephant crashed into the Undead Legion's formation like a cannonball, and their morale began to shift, with some showing expressions of horror and fear.

"A true god of war!"

The Chahatai Khan, watching from afar, was also stunned and hurriedly ordered his steppe cavalry to charge.

—Shakyamuni threw the elephant!
According to legend, when Buddha Shakyamuni was a prince, one day when he was leaving the city, an elephant blocked his way. The prince grabbed the elephant by the foot and threw it into the air. Three days later, the elephant fell to the ground and crashed into the ground, forming a deep ditch, which is now called the Elephant Throwing Ditch.

Duncan knew a little about this story, so when he saw those enormous, armored elephants, he already had a few ideas on how to break the formation.

Today, we used elephants to break through enemy lines and crush the undead legion.

Duncan's heroic figure was like a rampaging prehistoric beast. He grabbed another armored giant elephant and, using the same tactic as before, swung it in a 360-degree whirlwind before lifting it with one hand and hurling it towards the Undead Legion.

The entire army of ordinary people on the battlefield was dumbfounded.

The morale of the nomadic herders on the grasslands is skyrocketing!
And even the seemingly unyielding undead legion, which had been as solid as a rock, finally began to waver in morale.

Who can withstand this?

Before they could even figure out what was going on, they saw one armored giant elephant after another hurtling towards them like cannonballs.

The elephant is thrown to the ground, causing damage and explosion.

The priests of the Mithraic sect were somewhat stunned. They had no magic at all, just pure brute force, which was simply outrageous.

The legend level started to rise.

Even before the war is over, Duncan's decision to throw the elephant seems to be already on the verge of becoming a legend, and it will likely be further mythologized in the future.

After hurling more than ten armored giant elephants, the undead army finally began to collapse.

The iron cavalry of the grasslands pierced through the enemy lines.

After the central army was shaken, the enemy's army also began to suffer a large-scale rout.

"It's time to switch to the main account!"

Dimensional space.

Duncan saw a special mark appear on the projection screen, which was the condensation of the God of War's status. No matter what method he used, as long as he defeated Mithra's army head-on, he could get a share of the God of War's status in this world.

—In the name of the King of Kings!

"My men."

"Where is the Imperial Legion?"

One after another, spatial cracks appeared.

As Duncan's magic went berserk, the divine power of all spirits poured in, and the phantom of the first human host merged with this human body. In a realm invisible to the naked eye, the figures who had once followed him into battle appeared: Severus led the Druid Order, Kvito and others commanded the Sarmatians, Galavin led the Germanic berserkers, and in the very center was the Imperial Guard Legion, whose spirits had been transformed into heroes after their deaths. The vast army appeared through Duncan's inherent domain, out of the sight of mortals, yet it stormed into the Sanctuary of Mithra.

Under the will of all spirits, the heroic souls of the grasslands merged with the imperial legions, forming a canopy that enveloped all enemies before them!
—Attila the Scourge of God [Six Blood Stars]!
An old rival appeared in the vast army of spirits. He gazed at Duncan in the distance, then raised his whip. Countless spirits of the steppe, like a swirling storm, stormed into the kingdom of Mithra in spirit form.

All Spirits has already put everything on the table.

This hand.

To determine victory or defeat, to decide life or death!
They want to completely sever Mithra's foundation of faith in this world.

Duncan's human form has become detached from reality.

The phantom of the first human form coalesced, and by summoning heroic spirits, led the legion to join the battle to conquer the Holy Land. The will of the heavens condensed into the outline of a giant, directly confronting Mitra himself.

………………

(End of this chapter)