Strategy game? Then I'll have to control you properly.

"Lord Luke, we are about to reach our destination."

"Those guys probably noticed it too."

"Yes. After all, it's really difficult to increase the speed of a 50,000-strong army moving together."

On the vast grasslands, countless troops and horses were traversing the land. This was the main force led by Luke, who had already unified most of the grasslands.

Even when faced with a massive army that even the settled forces had to be wary of, Luke's expression remained somber, a stark contrast to his spirited adjutants.

"I won't drink, and I won't let my guard down until I've torn those bastards to shreds."

Luke, sharpening his blade of vengeance, had only one target in his eyes at that moment.

According to the original plan, he was supposed to completely annex the eastern steppes ruled by Theodore, unify most of the steppes except for the peripheral areas, and successfully pacify the remaining southern tribes, thus ascending to the true imperial throne.

But this plan was thwarted by the guys further east than Theodore.

The Theodosian tribe, which Luke had painstakingly conquered, was completely annexed by the Divine Race, which appeared from the east under the guise of an alliance.

He dismissed the idea and sent out an expeditionary force, only to be completely outmaneuvered by the enemy's tactics and suffer a crushing defeat.

"Those guys will use fantastical sorcery and evil magic. Those who distinguish themselves in battle will be richly rewarded, but we must never underestimate them."

Luke gritted his teeth and warned his clan leaders not to let their guard down, for the last defeat had cost them too much.

The fact that all the magicians who could contact the Southern Kingdom had been taken away was fatal enough.

This was also the reason why they brought almost all the elite soldiers they could find.

The purpose is to never underestimate the enemy and to win with overwhelming force in one strike.

"We are already outnumbered; if we rush in, we will only be tripped up by the reins. We should follow the king's orders, first establish a stronghold near the enemy's stronghold, and then steadily advance to annihilate them."

"You're right, Taka."

Luke nodded to the veteran who was serving as his strategist, and then ordered that the expansion of the stronghold be prioritized.

The site was chosen near the former stronghold of Theodore, now the location of Attila's second village, which he is building with the residents.

"They're really going all out."

Attila also sent scouts to monitor the enemy's every move, and they immediately saw through the intention.

Sensing that Luke was enraged and ready to fight to the death, Attila smiled wryly and looked around at his companions: "Chief Luke is already preparing to attack; we have no way to avoid it. Perhaps we should take this opportunity to offer the entire grassland to the Guardian. If we succeed, it will be easier to stop those black monsters."

"But the city wall isn't finished yet, so why don't we build a low wall first..."

"The enemy has already drawn their swords; poorly constructed obstacles will only hinder our operations."

Siege warfare is by no means a panacea. Although the dwarven survivors, with their robust physiques and low center of gravity, specialize in group infantry warfare and have learned siege tactics, most of the rapidly expanding Saturnians have not had time to master them.

Under the current circumstances, forcing an imitation would only increase casualties. Attila thought that even if he won, it would be meaningless if the cost was too high.

"Even if we gather all our forces, we can only commit 15,000 men to the battle. Even if we include the poorly trained recruits, we can only muster 30,000 at most, but reconnaissance shows that the enemy is composed entirely of elite troops."

"A direct confrontation would indeed be disadvantageous, given that we have fewer people."

Attila did not refute the words of his confidant and scout captain, Rick.

But those who knew him well noticed that although he said that, Attila had already made up his mind.

All that needs to be done now is to persuade the public with reasonable evidence.

"But look at this. The armor that Thorfinn and Dulin brought back from the new city on the orders of that lord. Although the quantity is small, its performance far surpasses the armor and weapons we have made in the past."

Attila took something out and showed it to them. Among the many items that had been urgently airlifted, it was a sword made entirely of animal horn that gleamed with a bluish light.

A horn-made sword could not possibly be stronger than a steel sword, but this sword is special because it is made from a byproduct of a high-level mutant and contains more magic.

When a warrior awakens their magic, their power will be multiplied. The skills of various warrior classes, such as Lancer, Knight, and Assassin, will also be enhanced.

The soldiers who had personally tried it out were astonished by the incredible power their skills displayed.

"Moreover, the number of our soldiers armed with these precious weapons is no less than that of the enemy."

Attila's confidence didn't stop there. When he spoke of the warriors, they all turned to look at each other.

Today's Aurora Warriors are no longer limited to those who are born with naturally awakened magical powers.

With the ability to see through the residents' potential, he used the files he had compiled to categorize the new members with outstanding potential separately, and continued to use the essence of the monsters he was hunting to perform awakening rituals for them.

Their numbers are by no means few. The number of Aurora warriors who have gained experience fighting the Zerg through hunting mode is indeed several times greater than that of other tribes.

"I believe the outcome of this war will depend on the warriors' skill."

Those chariots capable of taking on a hundred men are warriors who have awakened magical power.

Although the enemy has a numerical advantage, their number of soldiers is roughly equal to ours.

Attila believed that his warriors were more skilled and saw potential in them, placing his hopes in them.

Attila's words seemed quite convincing, and the warriors began to stir.

"These special equipment and the power bestowed upon you are all gifts from that lord's trust in us. Of course, we must repay them, shouldn't we?"

Sensing that the moment was right, Attila raised his sword and pointed it to the sky, and all the warriors, deeply moved, simultaneously raised their weapons.

"I'm even stronger now as a spearman than when I used a sword, all for the sake of that lord who recognized my talent."

"I thought I'd never even become a soldier and would only ever be good for digging, but that sir discovered me."

Warriors of all genders were filled with fighting spirit, for this war was by no means a simple contest of power.

This war has now become a testing ground for faith.

"There's nothing wrong with his mindset. If he couldn't even do this much while carrying the favor of that great man, he should resign as clan chief."

Attila, who had united the uneasy crowd, smiled faintly as things progressed smoothly.

With ample resources, leading the residents was a piece of cake for him.

"I see, Toya. You've mastered great magic too."

"Yes, Chieftain."

Of course, Attila did not rely solely on his warriors.

At this moment, there are not only defensive towers being added and upgraded, but also elite troops capable of turning the tide of battle at critical moments.

After meeting the warriors, Attila encountered a young woman named Toya.

Holding a staff, she was someone who had changed her profession to a mage.

"If you use it once too..."

"My cultivation is still shallow... I'm very sorry."

Attila's casual question caused the girl to tremble and lower her head.

This girl, who learned the powerful magic "Meteor Shower" from the magic book at the Hero Training Institute, is just like Bruno. She becomes exhausted every time she casts the spell and has to lie down for half a day.

"There's nothing I can do about it. Don't worry too much, I think once a day is enough."

"Excuse my bluntness... but you don't intend to summon Bruno?"

"Bruno has been overworked lately. I plan to have him and Mista guard the northern fortress together for this battle."

Attila nodded in response to her question.

Now that she's joined, there's no need to use Bruno anymore.

While it's always good to have one more person capable of using powerful magic, the defenses of the north cannot be relaxed.

"Then... Lady Lillie too?"

"No, Lillie will soon join us with the others."

Seeing Toya's tentative expression, Attila chuckled softly.

Lillie is widely recognized as the tribe's strongest knight. Whether she makes a difference on the battlefield is uncertain.

In such an important battle, Attila had no reason not to bring Lillie along.

How many more will awaken before that?

But the problem lies in another aspect. The key is how many 'Paladins' Lillie can bring to join them.

The latest news is that those warriors who are challenging themselves to become paladins are experiencing unimaginable hardships.

◆◆◆

"Because it's a high-level class like Paladin, it's definitely not that simple."

Lin Miao also knew that Attila planned to make good use of the paladins, including Lillie, in this war, but the problem was that there were too few people who could pass the trial.

Since Rosie barely passed, a large number of candidates have tried to challenge her but failed repeatedly, and have tried to challenge her again and again.

Including Lillie, only five paladins awakened during this process.

At this rate, I'm afraid we won't even be able to gather ten people.

"But if they can join the battle..."

Lin Miao also believed that the paladins would play a significant role in the war.

After all, the true paladin skills they are about to learn will not only greatly enhance their individual combat power, but also assist and heal their companions.

Although it's just an imagination that I haven't seen with my own eyes yet, it would definitely be a cheat-like ability if used in actual combat.

"This method isn't bad."

Because of the Dark Soul he activated, warriors can retain their initial class skills and choose new skills without restriction when selecting a higher-level class.

When Lin Miao saw Li Sushang's method of using MMORPG games to train an army more quickly, she was somewhat tempted, but she was convinced that her own method was more suitable for training versatile elites.

Such meticulously trained soldiers will surely become the trump card to turn the tide of battle.

"Weapons can be ignored, but they need to be properly equipped with armor."

Therefore, those who have passed the trials and become paladins need to be given more care.

Just like Lin Miao equipped Lillie and Rose, armor was purchased from the Dark Souls shop and distributed.

The men wore standard plate armor, unlike the modified female armor... so the female knights had to make do.

"It probably won't become a tradition, will it?"

The dwarves and mages from the southern kingdoms, especially those with extensive knowledge who can enter the game world, are gradually changing the culture among the inhabitants. Even Lin Miao can clearly feel this change.

Could that set of highly revealing female knight armor, which was definitely not designed for pure combat, become mainstream culture? This thought made Lin Miao vaguely concerned.

"Cough cough."

...It's not exactly ugly.

……

In the far north, as always, preparations for war are underway.

Meanwhile, within the kingdom, which was enjoying a peaceful scene that was completely different from that in the north, things were bustling with activity for the first time in a long time, as preparations were underway to send an envoy to the north.

"You all bear a heavy responsibility. This concerns the interests of the nation, and I hope you will all fulfill your duties diligently."

"I will obey the king's command."

When the officials, having completed their preparations, bid farewell to the king, they set off northwards carrying a personal letter from him.

"Although it's a little later than expected, it's alright. After all, we've already achieved some initial results."

Paul naturally accompanied them. Even if the positive exchanges he hoped for could not be achieved immediately, the fact that the delegation could even set off was already a significant step forward.

At least they no longer have to be accused of spreading lies or falsely accused of being spies who collude with the enemy by the country.

Although a few people still made such accusations, they were quelled thanks to the King's attention.

"Anyway, once they see it with their own eyes, their opinions will change."

The only remaining question is the delegation's assessment of Aurora, but Paul is not worried.

Because everything he said was true, when people witnessed the miracles on that land, they would naturally believe his words.

"Who knows what these barbarians, who don't even understand etiquette and law, might do? Aren't we having enough guards?"

"The late king once conquered the barbarian tribes on the border and subjugated most of them, earning him a great reputation. Even the most foolish among them should know that harming the kingdom's envoys would be met with retaliation."

Before boarding the carriage, Paul silently watched the two arguing men before him.

A middle-aged minister in official robes and a young knight in uniform, the chief envoy and the captain of the guard of this delegation.

"Though he's inflexible, he's capable enough. As long as the Deputy Privy Councilor for Foreign Affairs can be persuaded... the others won't be a problem."

The man appointed as envoy, though stubborn, was honest, capable, and deeply trusted by the king. Paul believed that if he could persuade him, the court would re-evaluate China.

"What do you mean? Is the situation in the north unusual?"

However, when they arrived at the border, they were shocked by the news coming from the north.

The land they were about to visit, Aurora, was facing a crisis of war with Luke's army.

"It's absolutely true. News from the tribes that have submitted to us has come that Luke, the chieftain who is rapidly unifying the grasslands, has led an army of 50,000 eastward to conquer us."

"Fifty, fifty thousand..."

Upon hearing the numbers reported by the fortress garrison captain, everyone's faces turned deathly pale.

Infighting among grassland tribes is more common than eating, but battles involving tens of thousands of people are extremely rare.

"If this continues, is the grassland really going to be unified?"

The Vice Privy Councilor glanced furtively at Paul, one of the few who knew about the king's secret plan to cultivate steppe power.

"Isn't guiding the grasslands to form a powerful group to restrain the empire exactly what our plan is?"

"That being said... it would be unsettling if things really developed to that point."

Inside the carriage, only Paul and the deputy privy councilor spoke in private. Paul, who had personally experienced the storms, appeared calm, while the deputy privy councilor's face showed some anxiety.

"If Luke finds out about our contact with Aurora, we'll be in an awkward position. It would give them an excuse to turn against us."

"We've only ever been doing a 'transaction' from beginning to end. It's only natural for merchants to make money; why would they pick and choose their customers? Luke can't find anything against us. But, Vice Privy Councilor... do you think Luke's tribe can win?"

"That kid has grown to where he is today entirely thanks to the support of our kingdom, hasn't he?"

That's true.

Paul did not deny the Privy Councillor's words. The kingdom had indeed secretly contacted the promising young Luke, using material support to nurture his small tribe into a large one.

But Paul had witnessed something far more terrifying: warriors equipped with weapons superior to the kingdom's steel and wielding spells far more powerful than the kingdom's magic.

Most importantly, Aurora possesses an unwavering belief as its weapon.

"It is indeed very possible for a unified tribe to emerge on the grasslands. But it will not be Luke's tribe, but rather the Cintaman who fight for a noble mission."

"Ha! Fifty thousand! A full fifty thousand. Even we, with our cannons, dare not underestimate the fifty thousand-strong army of the northern barbarians..."

The deputy privy councilor listened to Paul's resolute words and gave a wry, mocking smile.

Now that things have come to this, he really wants to see what makes Paul so certain.

"It's time to set off."

Since they could not disobey the king's command, they had no choice but to risk crossing the border and continuing north. Although friendly tribes along the way joined their escort, this protection would not last long.

Because these tribes were also unable to leave their own territory.

"The tribes that migrate south from the northeast, calling themselves the Alin tribe, regularly patrol this area. They carry large quantities of food and supplies, and can trade freely, so there is really no need to invade."

"I see."

The delegation sighed after listening to the locals' account.

The Arin tribe is clearly consolidating its territory.

"Look, it's their reconnaissance team."

The delegation finally encountered the Arin tribe head-on for the first time.

Their attire, so distinct from that of the surrounding tribes, was unforgettable: white bone armor not forged from steel, protective gear made of black shell and leather, and skull helmets decorated with animal horns.

At first glance, it appears crude, but those who witness it firsthand are involuntarily overwhelmed by an inexplicable sense of oppression.

"Nervous? Why am I like this?"

Captain Leo was equally shocked to find that his hand holding the sword was trembling uncontrollably.

"I've heard of you; you're the kingdom's delegation, aren't you?"

"No, that's right. Are there only a few of you?"

The deputy envoy of the mission gasped when he saw the size of the Alin tribe's reconnaissance team; the number of people was not even enough to form a basic ceremonial guard.

"Please excuse the wartime situation; our main forces are currently on the front lines."

"Yeah, I've heard of it."

"The battle may never end. Although we will take you to the first village first, we will pass through a second village near the battlefield along the way, so it is best to get through it quickly."

The reconnaissance team explained the route to them. It wasn't the northeastern route, fraught with treacherous forests and mountains, but a safer path that detoured slightly to the west.

Paul had taken this same route on his way there, so the mission did not reject the offer.

"Just as the clan leader said, everything went smoothly."

But this was actually an instruction given by Attila to the reconnaissance team. He intended for the delegation to pass near the battlefield and witness the scene firsthand.

"It's unlikely they'll completely believe Paul's story. Negotiations would be much easier if they could see for themselves who we are and what's happening here. Didn't Paul do that?"

This was a result of anticipating that the delegation still harbored doubts about them. Having experienced the effects of shock therapy through Paul and the kingdom's magicians, Attila decided to try it again.

"Even so, is it really okay to have to pass through the vicinity of the battlefield?"

"We will do everything in our power to protect everyone's safety."

Unaware of the situation, the delegation suppressed their unease and set off. Carrying such a heavy load of luggage, the journey would likely take several days.

(Announcement of hiatus: I need to focus on updating another book at the moment, so this book will be on hiatus for now. Sorry.)