Elden: Ring of Calamity

Chapter 488 Hanging on the Blade

In Latan's opinion, solving these historical problems is very simple. All Lucia needs to do is to complete the cleansing of the Ancient Dragon Dynasty and go to see Norton Stanley with Kaironissa's head, and all the grudges will be resolved.

But the development of the times is sometimes so unpredictable. The traditional Golden Tree forces represented by the New Party are absolutely unwilling to see the rise of the New Demigod Alliance, let alone the revival of the Ancient Dragon Dynasty that once dominated all races. The timing of my father's attack happened to be stuck in the critical period when Lucia was rapidly absorbing strength in the North. Coupled with the extraordinary performance of the giant remnants that was beyond everyone's expectations, this life-and-death crisis has been created.

If we look at this war that affected the whole world from a macro perspective, the completely closed North Territory can be said to have been taken out of the battlefield alone. Apart from pouring unlimited trust in Lucia, they have no other choice for the time being.

In the dispute in the center of the border area, the Weeping Peninsula and the Stanley family happened to become the key points where the three forces of Asia, Kalia and Gaileed intersect with each other. Norton's attitude and tendency are unpredictable, but they are of decisive importance to the battlefield situation, so he has to be cautious.

"No matter what, the East has just recovered from the aftermath of the Star Shattering War. We cannot allow the Southern Army to enter the territory of Gaileid," Gaius, who had not expressed his opinion, set the tone as soon as he spoke. "We must not only win this battle, but also win it big, and we must win it outside the East."

"Yes, we only have two options—" Latan said with a deep breath.

"First, all the forces in the rear of the East Territory will be pushed forward to Gale, and all the forces of Gale will advance westward to face the Southern Territory Legion head-on. In one battle, we will hurt Greg and scare him, until his army collapses. Our army will take advantage of the situation to pursue him, dragging the chaotic army back to Nimgerfu, and finally break through Stonewell. We will kill his second choice before Norton can react, and force him to surrender with the general trend."

"Based on the combat power of the Eastern Territory's troops, this battle is almost certain to win. However, given Greg's character and the discipline of the Southern Territory's troops, once the system collapses, it will be like a swarm of locusts, and the entire Southern Territory will be devastated."

"Second, I personally led hundreds of elite soldiers to avoid the southern army and launch a surprise attack on Stonewell before the enemy arrived at the eastern border. I killed the general and captured the city, forcing Greg's army to return for support. I then sent one person to lead an army to attack the enemy from the flank. After creating a chance to win the battle in one fell swoop under Stonewell, I gave the choice to Norton Stanley himself."

"If this tactic succeeds, Greg's 100,000-strong army will be annihilated at the gates of Stonewell, and no one from the southern border will be harmed. If Norton still has some of his father's and grandfather's blood in him, he should know how to make the decision."

"Not appropriate!" Oga retorted immediately.

"Your Highness is no longer betting on the war, but on people's hearts. In this matter, we can no longer regard Your Highness as just a general! You must adopt such a risky and radical approach in a battle that is sure to win. It is tantamount to hanging your life on the edge of a knife. Not only can the newly surrendered city-states of Nangalide not accept it, but Her Majesty Reinara in the far west will definitely not accept it if she knows about it!"

Even Gaia, the youngest and most energetic of the group, changed his expression at this moment and said, "That's fine. General, lead your army to attack their flank, and leave the surprise attack on Stonewell to me. How can the commander take risks in the front while the vanguard retreats to the back?"

You know, Stonewell is not a small city with a population of a few thousand. As the former Storm King's capital, its size may be slightly smaller than today's Golden King's City, Rodel, but it is more ancient in history and has more strategic defenses. There are countless secret passages inside and outside the city, which can be described as one man blocking a thousand men. This is also the reason why Greg dared to lead the Southern Border Legion out in full force and only leave a few thousand people to guard the main city.

Hundreds of people marching thousands of miles to kill generals and capture cities are rare in the thousands of years of war history in the border areas, and it is even more rare for troops to go straight to the enemy's main city. If any link in the march goes wrong, even with Latan's extraordinary military power, it will be difficult to survive from the enemy's hinterland.

Latan did not make a decision immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes slightly and tapped the table with his knuckles, as if he was carefully considering the details of the two options.

After more than ten breaths, he opened his eyes and looked at Gaius, the only one who did not express his opinion. He smiled and said, "Brother, this time, can you still understand my choice?" Gaius was silent for a moment and said, "This time, you are not fighting for a moment, but for a lifetime. Not only do you want Stanley to surrender, but you also want them to return to their hearts."

"But to be fair, this matter should have been left to His Highness Lucia himself. He is the king of the Storm People. If it was just for the friendship between Longyue and the strategic alliance of several highnesses, it would not be enough to exchange for His Highness' life."

"Ha, Senior Brother, what you said is too harsh—"

There was still a smile on Latan's face, but the three people present were all his confidants, and anyone could see the sadness in his smile.

He took a deep breath, shook his head, and said with a smile: "If we were really here for profit, neither he nor I would have come to this point today."

"When I was young, I just wanted to emulate my father and the War King and become a hero known throughout the world. It was not until I met him in the battle at Lake Rodel that I saw another path, a path that could surpass my father and the War King."

"Lucia is also on this path. He has always walked faster and farther than me. That's why before he died in the Tomb of the Gods, Servis mocked me. But now that I think about it, what he said was not entirely wrong."

"The War King has disappeared, and my father has embarked on a wrong path from which there is no return. Lakkad has long understood this, and my younger sister was the first to realize it, so she got together with the dragon. On the contrary, I have been chasing after their backs. If I keep walking foolishly with my head down, I will only get further and further away from the right direction."

"Brother said that this battle cannot take place in Gaileed because the people of the East have shed too much blood in the Battle of the Broken Star - but in Nimgefu, under the suppression of Stonewell, how much blood have the Storm People shed? If you can't even figure out such a simple question, the so-called 'demigod' will really become a joke in the mouth of Selvis, right?"

"As for who is their king, haha"

Ratan raised his head and smiled nonchalantly, "When the people are in dire straits, does it really matter who the crown is on?"

"So, I am not fighting for the Dragon Moon Alliance, nor for the new alliance we have formed in Gaileed."

"I want to do this because I should do this. Even if there is a day when I need to choose between Lucia and me as the king, it will just depend on who goes further on that road. Brother, do you think this weight is enough?"

After these words were spoken, Gaia and Oga opened their mouths, unable to utter a word in rebuttal.

Only Gaius and Latan sat facing each other for a while, and finally shook their heads, sighed with a helpless smile, and said: "That's enough."

(End of this chapter)