Swallowing the Stars: Starting with the Battle of Geniuses

Chapter 107 When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked.

The Forne River—that's the name of the mighty river that stretched between the two armies.

It is a natural barrier formed by the tenth layer of the abyss.

It is thousands of kilometers long and tens of kilometers wide.

It is filled with chaotic laws and power, and most areas are inaccessible to anyone other than a top-tier expert at the Domain Lord level.

Without the support of troops and military formations, the army's strength is reduced to less than one-tenth.

This nearly eradicated the strategy of large-scale groups crossing rivers to kill the enemy.

As for a high-altitude surprise attack...

Indeed, the higher one goes, the more ordinary the laws of the Forne River become.

However, the absence of the obstruction of the laws at higher altitudes also weakens the protection provided by the laws.

Being too large a target naturally makes you a prime target. As you cross the river, the enemy on the other side is already poised to strike, ready to deliver a fatal blow the moment you show yourself.

They usually operate in small, elite groups, rarely engaging in large-scale high-altitude incursions.

However, due to the changes in the flood season, every now and then one or two sections of the river will become calmer and the power of the laws will be weaker.

If such a point is found, and the natural barrier of the Forne River is used as cover, one can quietly cross the river and penetrate deep into the enemy's rear to launch a surprise attack.

Even more remarkably, in extreme circumstances, where the river section is exceptionally long and the main force can strike directly at the heart of the enemy, thus establishing a millennia-long dominance in the western battlefield.

Over time, the two sides became wary of each other, turning the two banks of the river into a key battlefield.

Nofigales led his troops to reinforce this battlefield, and thirty-three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The main purpose of the Second Division's deployment was to reinforce the defenses and prevent the Black Demon Army from crossing the river through the breach and launching a surprise attack.

During this period, new recruits continued to join.

Even so, after thirty-three years of fighting, the Second Division suffered heavy losses, with only the 52nd Battalion remaining relatively intact. The other battalions, having lost more than 90% of their strength, were all integrated into these remaining 52nd Battalions.

The 212th Battalion to which Hunzhen belonged was also reorganized ten years ago. Although it still bears the number 212, most of the soldiers have actually been replaced.

As for the battalion commander... he is the battalion commander now.

As a commander, in addition to the military merit rewards for personally killing the enemy, he also received a share of the military merits from commanding operations and his subordinates killing the enemy.

It was precisely because of the latter that he chose to reveal his domain lord strength.

Otherwise... you really shouldn't expect to accumulate enough military merits in such a short time.

Yes, during the Battle of Fone River in the thirty-three years ago, he had accumulated enough military merits to exchange for a spot in the Small Martial Arts Festival, and even had a considerable surplus. He exchanged these merits for some cultivation resources and quietly revealed his strength to the ninth level of the Domain Lord level.

Over the past decade, the 212th Battalion has earned a reputation for its exceptional strength. With its advanced knowledge and rich combat experience inherited from its predecessors, it has escaped countless sniper ambushes unscathed, making it an invincible force.

Countless colleagues both respected and envied Hunzhen, believing him to be the rising star in the Second Division who was closest to becoming a division commander.

However, after accumulating enough military merits, Hunzhen's mind was mostly focused on how to retire from the war and escape.

With his advanced knowledge, he knew that even if he stayed on this battlefield, he would never become a division commander...

Soon, he will face a major trouble that he cannot avoid.

"Hunzhen, good heavens, you truly are my top warrior! Come and become my personal guard!"

It was a slightly more relaxed, sunny afternoon during the war when Hunzhen's superior, the commander of the 2nd Division, Noficales, came to him and extended an olive branch.

Personal guards are a privilege exclusive to the nobles of the Abyss, with a limited number available, varying according to the noble's rank.

The ranks of the Royal Guards change according to the ranks of the Abyss Nobles.

Nofigales was a division commander with the rank of colonel. If he were to serve as his bodyguard, his rank would be reduced by one level, to the same rank as a current battalion commander, which would be lieutenant colonel.

But the Abyss Nobles are always aloof, and their personal guards are directly subordinate to them, just like someone who has risen from humble beginnings to become a well-connected official.

Even at this time, Nofigales had not yet been promoted to legion commander and served as his personal guard, but his status was still a notch above that of an ordinary battalion commander.

There's an old saying that goes, "Even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner." And a bodyguard is essentially a dog that becomes part of a noble family.

If he wanted, he could have become such a "dog" shortly after entering the Abyss Battlefield.

Naturally... Hunzhen would not choose to agree.

Nofigales accepted Hunzhen's reply with a smile on his face, and even patted Hunzhen on the shoulder encouragingly.

But Hunzhen knew very well that when he rejected the other party, his original "admiration" had completely turned into "hatred".

The reason they didn't take action to eliminate this annoying "bug" directly wasn't because they couldn't, but because they were unwilling.

Killing a meritorious person simply because the other party refused to recruit him would undoubtedly lead to a drop in morale.

One of the attractions of military service for lower-class races is that they can gain a certain degree of equality and respect on the battlefield. Even if this is just a fig leaf, forcibly tearing it off will shake morale.

But unsurprisingly, almost instantly, many of his former colleagues who had been optimistic about and friendly with him began to distance themselves from and ostracize him.

The once "invincible army" saw many soldiers subsequently choose to change camp affiliations.

The fact that such an application was so easily approved is proof of Noficales's inner inclination towards silence.

Despite the sharp reduction in personnel and the constant excuse of "insufficient manpower" to replenish the troops, the combat missions undertaken by the 212th Battalion have become increasingly difficult.

If it weren't for Hunzhen's exceptional personal abilities and almost supernatural command skills, the 212th Battalion would probably have been wiped out long ago.

Faced with such exclusion, oppression, and bullying, Hunzhen was like a donkey that had been stroked, silently enduring it all.

Everything proceeded as usual.

In his thirty-sixth year in the army, the Silver Demon Army finally switched from defense to offense.

Perhaps it was due to their previous impressive record.

The 2nd Division was ordered to be one of the vanguard units to cross the river and fight.

……

After decades of fierce fighting, the proportion of new recruits has become increasingly smaller.

At least the soldiers who remained in the Hunzhen ranks were all seasoned veterans, with no new recruits among them.

Even in the calmer sections of the river, the risks of crossing are enormous, comparable to fighting less than a kilometer away from a large cavern.

If they are not careful, they will be killed by the environment.

However, this level of intrusion by the power of the laws was not enough to shake these seasoned veterans.

As the vanguard of the 2nd Vanguard Division, the 212th Battalion, with 12,000 men, successfully crossed the river without a single one falling into the water.

Given the length of the Forne River, it is not realistic to station most of the people to guard every section of the river.

At least when the 212th Battalion landed, they did not encounter any enemy troops.

Following the example set by the 212th Battalion, the main force of the 2nd Division landed one after another.

Nofigales looked at the empty, unobstructed road before him with excitement.

After this battle, his achievements were enough to qualify him for promotion to legion commander.

The reason why the Abyss Royal Family is so keen on the Abyss Battlefield, sending the younger generation here for trials as if it were a gilding ceremony, is not only to vent their desire for killing and war, but also to achieve a higher level of life evolution and improve their own strength.

By gathering a high concentration of abyssal power through a biological exoskeleton, and striving to wield it with complete mastery, one must temper one's will.

This benefit can be enjoyed even by the lower races.

In addition, the Abyss royal family is constantly immersed in high-quality Abyss power, which can subtly enhance their bloodline level.

War and slaughter are the events that most effectively activate the power of the abyss, which is one of the reasons why the abyss royal family opened up the abyss battlefield.

Although this kind of evolution is not as rapid as devouring the life crystal cores of enemy races, it is superior in that it is long-lasting and stable.

Only those with an extreme desire for evolution, or the lowest-ranking third-class nobles, would venture far from home to the secondary battlefield at the first level of the abyss.

Nofigales' sinister gaze swept over Hunzhen.

This lowly, inferior race dared to refuse his offer of service; they were already courting death.

"No rush, no need to rush. Such a fierce general should at least be allowed to contribute his last bit of strength before he dies."

Noficares thought to himself, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Perhaps for him, such an ending is a supreme honor. Ah, how considerate I am."

He pulled on the reins, and his warhorse neighed, charging straight to the front of the battlefield.

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The jet-black warhorse was one of the few abyssal beasts that had been completely tamed by the abyssal royal family. It was called "Nightmare" and could be said to be the most widely used war weapon by the abyssal royal family.

Whether it's the Silver Demon Clan or the Black Demon Clan, their power can be well integrated with the Nightmare Warhorse's power, unleashing more than 100% of their combat strength.

Each Nightmare Warhorse will only recognize one master in its lifetime. As the best partner of the Abyss Royal Family, it will never betray them and will share life and death with them.

Nofigales's aura was already connected with the entire division, so that a change in one part would affect the whole.

At this moment, countless soldiers, seeing their leader leading the charge, were greatly encouraged and followed closely behind, roaring battle songs.

Such a fearless and reckless attitude naturally makes it easy for people of lower races to be moved.

And this was indeed not just for show; every time they went to war, every member of the Abyss royal family always charged to the forefront of the battlefield.

Like most life forms in the universe, inferior races possess the survival instincts of normal creatures. It is for this reason that they are attracted to the Abyss Royal Family's fearless "fighting will" and have even elevated it to glory over the long years.

Little did they know that this had nothing to do with qualities like willpower or courage.

It's simply the nature of the Abyss royal family, ingrained in their bloodline.

Or rather, even knowing this, it is precisely because they know this that inferior races, who consider the fear of death a disgrace, regard the Abyss royal family, who are born without the fear of death, as sacred, and regard them as their faith and glory.

Hunzhen, however, had no such emotions at all.

As the vanguard, the 212th Battalion was naturally the first to encounter the enemy.

With their rear under attack, the Black Demon Army naturally fell into chaos for a period of time before regaining its strength.

Soon, the 2nd Division became an isolated force deep behind enemy lines.

The casualty figures began to rise sharply.

However, the results were equally remarkable.

With the rear forces restrained, the Silver Demon Clan's main force, which had bypassed the Fone River, became even more ferocious and difficult to defeat on the main battlefield.

The defensive battle had been going on for over thirty years, but in just two months, the situation was turned around and the passive situation was transformed into an active one.

The changes on the Forne River battlefield naturally caused changes throughout the western battlefield, which in turn led to a slight alteration in the overall landscape of the tenth layer of the abyss battlefield.

The Silver Demon Army had won a series of victories and gained a certain advantage. The countless soldiers in the army were overjoyed and their fighting spirit was high.

The 2nd Division, along with more than ten other divisions that joined the river-crossing campaign after the 2nd Division, finally completed its mission and began a strategic retreat after suffering losses of more than 90% of its combat strength.

As the saying goes, "When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked."

Nofigales had already earned enough military merit to be promoted, so he naturally didn't need to care about the so-called morale of the army.

The entertainment programs that were originally intended to be shown later naturally found their time to be broadcast.

During a period of rest and reorganization, the remaining dozen or so battalions of the 2nd Division formed a circle.

Each camp would send out performers at intervals, just like any other relaxation activity during a normal military career.

The 212th Battalion has long since been reorganized and restructured into the 007th Battalion.

The first six battalions took turns singing, dancing, and performing skits, and soon it was the turn of the genuine 007 battalion.

Facing the amused gazes of the battalion commanders, Hunzhen clapped his hands expressionlessly, and a soldier with a respectful expression walked to the center of the circle.

"etc."

Nofigales suddenly smiled and stopped the soldiers from advancing.

He looked at the calm-faced Hunzhen and said, "Hunzhen, why do you always have such a long face? Today is a day for everyone to go home happily, such a rare occasion, why don't you come up and perform a little something? Hehe, I'm quite curious to see what kind of performance you, with your deadpan face, could put on if you were to go on stage."

Hunzhen lowered his head slightly and said calmly, "Commander, I have no talent, so I will not embarrass myself by showing off."

"Oh?"

Nofigales was not surprised by Hunzhen's rejection.

He laughed and said, "No problem, no problem. How about this? I'll suggest a project. You don't need any special talent, you can definitely perform it, and the effect will be absolutely fantastic. How about you perform it for me?"

"May I ask, Commander, what project is it?" Hunzhen asked.

Even the other battalion commanders and soldiers looked on with curiosity.

They had a pretty good idea that the division commander intended to embarrass Hunzhen, but they didn't know how he would do it, and they were really curious.

Nofigales didn't keep him in suspense. He slapped his thigh while sitting cross-legged and laughed loudly, "It's very simple... Hunzhen, how about we have a friendly spar?"

The soldiers around them looked at each other in bewilderment, and even the joking and teasing voices disappeared, becoming as quiet as a formal greeting.

Hunzhen responds with silence.

"I've always been itching to test my skills against you, the strongest battalion commander in the Second Division."

Noficares narrowed his eyes: "What, are you not going to give me this face?"

All the soldiers paled; they had already discerned Noficales's murderous intent towards Hunzhen.

Exclusion, sabotage, or assigning Hunzhen to the most dangerous battlefields are all within the soldiers' acceptable range.

Even if we don't arrange for Hunzhen to go, someone else will eventually be assigned to go.

Thus, those who benefit from the situation naturally accept it gladly and are happy to see the spectacle.

However, tearing off the mask like this and using the guise of "playing around" to "accidentally kill" carries a completely different meaning.

For the sake of morale and fighting spirit, the Abyss Battlefield has at least some explicit rules that require a reasonable explanation for killing subordinates.

Hunzhen was always meticulous and readily agreed to even the most difficult tasks.

If this were to be exposed, it would inevitably become a scandal.

Nofigales is unpredictable, and given his extraordinary achievements, he will soon become a legion commander. No one can say for sure whether they will make things difficult for them because of what happened today.

The Hunzhen of today may be them in the future.

How could they not be moved?

In the center of everyone's attention, Hunzhen finally slowly stood up.

(End of this chapter)