I find it very sacred to pick someone up and make them a saint.

After the war began.

The entire power of the Cassirer Empire was divided into five armies, which crisscrossed the Dragon Mountains.

Like a hand gradually closing, it tightly gripped the entire Maple Valley.

The terrain for the entire charge was high up and low down, which is why this became the border between the two armies, making it easy to be overwhelmed in one wave.

Mien and Lucia, along with the entire Silver Moon Knight squad, followed at the rear, allowing them to overlook the entire battlefield.

Just then, they saw Rachel at the very front, single-handedly taking on a thousand men, her blood-red sword flashing, her entire body transforming into a blood-red meteor as she plunged into Maple Valley.

A tremendous burst of magical light erupted.

Maple Valley, which had always been quiet and deserted, has finally started to stir.

After several bursts of magical energy, dozens of figures leaped out of the valley, either dodging or flying through the air to attack Rachel.

"As expected," Pope said beside her.

It seems that, just as planned, at least 50,000 men, the vanguard elite, were lurking in Maple Valley.

If we can eliminate them immediately, there will be no chance of anything changing in the remaining battle.

Rachel's bravery was witnessed by everyone, awakening the passion and wildness in their hearts.

The vanguard of each army rushed into the valley, and her troops and lords followed to provide support.

Soon, more and more soldiers in dark gray armor and people in dark black robes emerged and hurriedly put up a fight.

Mien narrowed his eyes, finding his core target, who appeared to be a member of the Life Cult.

Suddenly, a blood-red pillar of light rose from the deepest part of the valley, shooting into the sky and carrying dozens of enemy soldiers who had been thrown into the air.

Rachel almost ventured deep into the heart of the enemy territory alone.

With unstoppable momentum, the five "fingers" quickly closed in, sweeping away the panicked crowd as they fled in disarray.

They all used weapons enhanced with [Lightforged Blades], making the entire valley shine like a galaxy, swaying in the wind.

The direction and situation of the Cassirer Empire's army can be clearly seen.

Mien and Lucia spotted a familiar figure among them.

Neuer also charged ahead, even breaking away from the main force of the Imperial Army.

The radiant magic, like white moonlight, plunged into the deepest recesses, carrying with it the humiliation she felt for "Maple Castle Valley," attempting to sweep it all away in one fell swoop.

Mien suddenly frowned.

Something seems a little different.

He led Lucia and the others forward at a leisurely pace, even deliberately slowing down to spend more time observing from the high ground.

Another crimson sword beam pierced through like a thread.

Mien quickly noticed that the sword light emitted by Rachel's artifact was somewhat different from what it had been in Valgon City.

Unlike the violent and sharp aura of the past, there were now many subtle ripples of light, carrying the aura of traditional imperial soldiers...

Flami and Sestan also quickly entered the battlefield.

The Carax family's personal guards, using light magic enhanced by dragonfire energy, swept across every side of the valley in large-scale waves.

Mien had heard about it before, and had always thought it was an ability related to bloodline, but he only learned the truth yesterday.

Sestan, leading only a dozen or so bodyguards, unleashed a fierce energy aura.

A gigantic lion forged from energy materialized around him, leaping and charging like a formation, leading a dozen or so people in a rampage, seemingly still in its youthful form.

With no more time for observation, Mien and the others were pushed into the battlefield by the "tide".

As we entered the valley, the towering peaks on both sides blocked out the sunlight, making the daytime somewhat gloomy.

With the vanguard no longer in sight, Mien could only use his magic to probe a limited area of ​​space.

Only a few scattered Imperial soldiers remained on both sides, all of whom were killed by Pope and the other knights, so there was no need for Mien or Luya to take action.

After a while, Mien vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

He was always waiting for the followers of the Life Cult to attack so that he could capture them alive or investigate them and obtain more information.

They had traveled for over ten miles without seeing a single person.

There were only a few scattered corpses of cultists by the roadside, a disproportionate number compared to the Imperial Army.

Even if the number of people is small, it can't be this small, right?

Mien raised his right hand.

The entire Silver Moon Knight squad slowed down and moved closer to Mien.

"What happened, Lord Mien?" Poppy asked, as her sword slid down the body of an enemy soldier.

"There might be an ambush. Everyone slow down your march, do not scatter, and be prepared to defend at any time."

Mien calmly gave the order.

"An ambush?" Poppy asked in surprise.

Looking at the army advancing so easily, as if cutting melons and vegetables, it didn't seem like there was an ambush at all.

"Lord Mien..."

"You must immediately use the Silver Moon Knights' communication device to relay this message to Neuer."

Seeing Poppy's stunned expression, Mien coldly looked at him: "Hurry!"

Poppy, having just regained his composure, immediately acted as Mien commanded.

The fighting spirit that had been ignited gradually subsided.

She relayed messages while observing the entire battle from the sidelines.

There are indeed some signs of an ambush...

The infiltration went too smoothly, and the entire terrain was an excellent place to ambush or be ambushed.

After she finished sending the message, she gazed around and expressed her concerns to Mien:

"But my lord, the problem is that the Cassil Empire almost surrounded the entire Dragon Mountain Range and it took them 150 million troops to do so."

"Even if the Severn Empire wanted to encircle us, how would they do it?"

Having trained under Neuer in the military for many years, she possesses the ability to assess the overall situation.

"Are we going to mobilize 200,000 troops?"

That's the entire military force of their empire.

Are they going to empty their pockets to do this?

Are other borders and internal areas no longer needed for defense?

As she spoke, her voice became firmer, and she began to believe in her own judgment.

"And even if the Severn Empire really does this and succeeds, so what?"

It is impossible for 200,000 troops to completely annihilate 150,000 troops.

This is without considering reinforcements.

If the entire empire's power is mobilized to wage war, it will be more than just conquering cities and seizing territory.

It was a war of annihilation.

The Severn Empire cannot gamble its fate like this.

Mien simply countered with a nonchalant question: "Is it possible that the answer is zero? If not, then be prepared for the consequences."

Pope was speechless for a moment.

Soldiers, especially commanders, are often tripped up by a one in ten thousand chance, resulting in the loss of armies and nations—the examples are countless.

"Of course not, but it would take nearly ten years of preparation for the entire empire to implement such a plan before it could be realized."

This is really hard to believe.

Mien's eyes darkened.

He suddenly recalled Neuer's inner demons.

Jasper, the supreme commander of the empire and also of royal blood, more than two hundred years ago...

He was ambushed and captured in the same Maple Valley, and remained in the Severn Empire for ten years.

"Perhaps their planning has been going on for far more than ten years..."