Near the place where the main battlefield between Liguritudum, Aurebor, and Hydrurond used to be, a large group of people was gathering.
Within this group were several guild leaders with their guild army command platforms and one elven woman controlling a war table. An ethereal wearing heavy armor and holding two magic staffs stood in their midst.
"Mm…?" Master muttered.
"Something's wrong?" Linda asked. She was controlling the troops to chase after the fleeing Hydrurond soldiers. The more draconian soldiers they killed, the easier the later battle at Hydrurond capital would be. Master was standing right next to her so she noticed his sudden muttering.
"Wong just quit," Master answered.
"Quit…? Why?" Linda asked.
Master didn't answer. He seemed to be either contemplating something or exchanging messages.
After a while, Master said, "Long just sent me a message. He and Wong just met."
"… I see. I guess Wong won't be coming back anymore. What a pity. He is a good combatant, even if a bit too stubborn."
"Doesn't matter. It won't affect our plan," Master said.
"I guess you should look for a replacement for him then? To take over the heavenly enforcer spot."
"The spots for heavenly enforcer were originally only meant for four persons," Master said. "Spring Crown, Ronald, Wong, and you. The four of you are the people I recruited before I remake this world. My plan is always to have four heavenly enforcers."
"How did Long come to become one?" Linda asked.
"Wong's request to find his disciple. I have completed it a long time ago. I was not intentionally looking for his disciple, though. He just happened to be one of the players who stole from me, but that kid impressed me enough that I decided to add one more heavenly enforcer instead of handing him to Wong."
"Well, I can't blame you. That guy is indeed unusual, but let me give you a piece of advice. He could betray someone who had raised him and made him into this formidable martial artist. I don't think he will think twice about doing the same to you if given the chance. You shouldn't trust him that much."
"Hmph. I trust no one. Not even you," Master responded.
Linda just nodded with a slight smile.
"How is the extermination going?" Master asked.
"We encounter much resistance from player guilds who disrupt our pursuit," Linda answered. "But we still eradicate a great deal of the draconian soldiers. We couldn't continue this for long, though. They are soon to leave the range of this war table. I won't be able to send commands to our troops then. If you want them to continue chasing, they will be on their own once they leave this war table's range."
"Me too," Motherboard who was next to Master's other side said. "Our guild soldiers can't go further than this platform's range. They won't continue the pursuit even if I told them to."
"Then pull back the troops once they reach the range limit," Master instructed. "After that, reorganize the native army. I want them ready to move by tomorrow morning. We will begin our march to the capital. I want this war ends as soon as possible."
"As you wish, my lord," both Linda and Motherboard replied.
Jeanny and the others caught up to the native battalion whom they rescued earlier.
"Why aren't you on steeds?!" Jeanny asked.
"Some of us have lost our steeds," Pagram answered.
"Those of us who still have one can't just leave the others behind," Gyseo added. "We flee together or we die together!"
"Damn it!" Jeanny cursed. She didn't notice this earlier. "How many of you are losing your steeds?" She asked.
"We didn't exactly keep count. Probably around a hundred," Pagram answered.
Jeanny then shouted a command to his members, "Everyone! Give them your spare steeds!"
Everyone started fishing out a mount whistle from their inventory. It was common practice now for them to always keep at least one spare whistle just in case. These spare steeds were mostly just uncommon grades, though. This was the grade that was still reasonably affordable to be bought at the city stables.
Jeanny had two hundred members with her. So, if the battalion here only had one hundred soldiers with missing steed, then they should be okay.
But after handing out the whistles, it turned out the ones who lost their steeds were more than two hundred. So, some soldiers still didn't get a steed whistle.
"Damn it!!" Jeanny cursed again.
By then, they saw the sign of the chasing army from their rear. It looked like a regiment of two thousand.
Jeanny made a quick decision. "Swellgoing, select some members and carry the soldiers who still haven't had a steed, then leave! The rest will come with me and buy them some time!"
"Sister Jeanny. I want to fight beside you!!" Swellgoing protested.
"Listen to my order!" Jeanny reprimanded. Swellgoing lowered his head. He nodded unwillingly.
"Outworlders! If you are going to fight, then let us fight together!" Pagram proposed.
"If you do that, you will all just die meaningless death!" Jeanny replied. "We have other teams helping the other soldiers to escape as well. Stay alive and regroup with the other soldiers to defend Messephyria! The enemy will no doubt attack the capital next. Your being there will make the difference. As for us, we are immortal. We won't die!"
Done with her words, Jeanny turned to the chasing enemies and ordered everyone to charge. A few players stayed behind with Swellgoing who started to instruct the soldiers without steeds to climb their steeds.
As Jeanny and the others charged forward, they noticed two people riding out from the row of hills from the left. These two people just charged into the ethereal regiment. Jeanny wondered if those two were additional enemies who joined the regiment midway.
Jeanny asked those who had the Ancient Eagle Spirit bloodline. This bloodline gave the Eagle eye ability that enabled them to see far. She asked if they got a good look at those two people. Several members did.
These members informed Jeanny that one of the two was an ethereal holding two swords while the other was a draconian in samurai armor and holding a katana. The two didn't look like they were heading to the ethereal regiment with a peaceful intention, because they were brandishing their weapons menacingly when they charged into the regiment.
