Hours passed in the blink of an eye on the battlefield. Corpses, blood, and body parts could be found wherever one looked. It was a terrifying experience…and it was not over yet, either.
Even though it looked like Michael and his subordinates suffered fewer casualties, the situation was not all that bright and sunny.
The Untamed Jungle's outer ring was no more. Everything had been burned to the ground, even the humongous trees that had been towering above all for decades. Michael and his people lost the environmental advantage on the battlefield with the disappearance of the outer ring. They were pushed back into the middle area where they couldn't retreat any further.
If the Zentika Empire's forces forced them to retreat any further, the settlement might get exposed. That was something they wanted to avoid if possible.
Michael and his people had various means of defense in and around the settlement, but it would be better for everyone if the settlement remained well hidden further back in the Untamed Jungle's middle area.
The greatest advantage was that more than 60,000 Lionhearts had been killed since they invaded the Untamed Jungle. Unfortunately, most of the dead were Tier-2 natives. The strongest Lionhearts were still alive.
Less than a third of the High Lionhearts deployed to invade the Untamed Jungle had been slaughtered.
The Lionheart Commanders were also still alive. They had sustained some more or less serious wounds from battling the strongest High Beasts after Michael used Enhancement on them, but their lives were not in danger just yet.
Most High Beasts had been killed at this point, and the Monster Horde was reduced to a third of their former might. Their corpses littered the battlefield, their bodies either gutted or burned until only shreds were left behind.
Michael had been on the battlefield the whole time. He was the cause for the death of most High Lionhearts. However, his main mission had been to support his people and rescue them when they couldn't protect themselves anymore.
To his misfortune and the misery of his subordinates, Michael couldn't be everywhere.
It was impossible to protect everyone on a large-scale battlefield with three large armies spreading through the Untamed Jungle. They didn't even move together anymore. The three Commanders pushed their enemies back and spread in three directions to conquer the Untamed Jungle's middle area.
Three Untamed Awakened, Tier-3 Berserkers, who had been fighting valiantly against the forces of the Zentika Empire, had grown too confident in their strength. Their strength had skyrocketed after attaining new powers through the Soultraits and Soultrait Upgrades. They charged at a High Lionheart with confidence and highly advanced physical strength and delivered feisty blows to the High Lionheart.
At the end of the day, they managed to take down the High Lionheart after an arduous battle that lasted more than half an hour. It took the three Berserkers the combined efforts of their Soultraits and their tremendous physical strength, but they did it.
But the three Berserkers didn't live long enough to celebrate their victory. They died in exchange for killing the High Lionheart.
It was honorable to die on the battlefield, and it was an even greater glory to die after defeating a Higher Lifeform while being a mere Lesser Lifeform. It wasn't that bad for the Berserkers to die like that.
However, Michael didn't like that. He liked most parts of the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs' culture, but their acceptance of death and the fact that they charged into battles knowing that they couldn't emerge victorious was something that Michael would never be able to comprehend.
It didn't make any sense. Michael couldn't comprehend it.
Michael didn't even have enough time to mourn the dead.
Three members of the Untamed Awakened alongside more than one-fourth of his little army had been annihilated.
The worst was that Michael felt a tinge of relief when he sensed how few people died. The casualty rate was a lot lower than he had expected. If they were to fight enemies at a similar Tier, Michael wouldn't be like that, but the Heart of the Blazing Lion army was not just 'any' enemy. It was an Elite Army from the Zentika Empire.
Unfortunately, the warfare against the Zentika Empire's forces was not yet over.
Their forces continued to move ahead and kill everyone in their path.
The High Lionhearts were the biggest problem on the battlefield. Michael and the Untamed Awakened managed to kill most Awakened, the strongest forces among the Tier-2 and Tier-3 Lionhearts, swiftly. However, the Untamed Awakened were not strong enough to deal with the Higher Lifeforms.
Michael and Hiraku were the only ones who managed to deal with High Lionhearts without sustaining lethal injuries. The others would have to fight suicidally and sacrifice their lives to eliminate a dozen High Lionhearts before they would succumb as well.
'It would be much easier to deal with the Heart of the Blazing Lion army if the High Beasts didn't charge in so stupidly. Their death might cause–...Forget it!' Michael slapped his cheeks tightly.
At least, the strongest High Beasts were still alive. They were his means to defeat the Commanders, who were at the Peak of Tier-4. Without the strongest High Beasts, Michael didn't know how to win against the Commanders, not without losing everything. After all, they were also Awakened with powerful Artifacts.
The Commanders being Awakened turned the situation even worse than necessary. The only good thing about them was that their Soultraits weren't that great. One of the Commanders summoned a Sword with his Soultraits, but the Sword Soultrait was quickly replaced with a Weapon Artifact, indicating that the Sword Soultrait was of a low star rating.
Only one of the Commanders had a decent Soultrait. It allowed him to control blood to a certain degree.
The Blood Manipulation Soultrait had been enough to kill hundreds of ferocious monsters, Blessed Squires, Holy Knights, and others. Dozens of Forest Elves were struck with blood spears, their bodies exploding once the blood spears impacted.
The sight was gruesome, and the survivors were filled with rage. However, their wrath was swallowed whole to remain somewhat calm against the dangers that were waiting for them.
Hirak was one of the few Awakened whose presence was enough to calm down those around him. He utilized his physical prowess well and picked out the enemies that were unable to do anything against his humongous size, his physical prowess and the weapons he conjured from thin air.
Many Lionhearts focused on their Racial Trait. Their Minor Fire Affinity was the Lionhearts' strongest weapon alongside their above-average control of energy. The combination granted them great versatility with their Flames.
Therefore, most Lionhearts who desired to focus on their Minor Affinity refined their body to attune it more to energy and fire. Their aptitude toward the fire element boosted in response.
It was not uncommon for natives to be promoted to 2-Star Pyromancers or 3-Star Pyroxants. The latter was a unique profession that could only be chosen by the most talented natives. Some managed to become Magus of the Sacred Flame as well. It was a 4-Star Profession that was gifted to those devoted to the Sacred Flame, the never-extinguishing flame that resided in the Zentika Empire's capital.
Choosing one of those occupations boosted their control and affinity toward fire greatly. However, it didn't improve their physical strength a lot. That was usually not necessary, either way. All they had to do was unleash their blazing flames to burn their enemies to cinder. What else would they need?
The sight was gruesome, and the survivors were filled with rage. However, their wrath was swallowed whole to remain somewhat calm against the dangers that were waiting for them.
Hirak was one of the few Awakened whose presence was enough to calm down those around him. He utilized his physical prowess well and picked out the enemies that were unable to do anything against his humongous size, his physical prowess and the weapons he conjured from thin air.
Many Lionhearts focused on their Racial Trait. Their Minor Fire Affinity was the Lionhearts' strongest weapon alongside their above-average control of energy. The combination granted them great versatility with their Flames.
Therefore, most Lionhearts who desired to focus on their Minor Affinity refined their body to attune it more to energy and fire. Their aptitude toward the fire element boosted in response.
It was not uncommon for natives to be promoted to 2-Star Pyromancers or 3-Star Pyroxants. The latter was a unique profession that could only be chosen by the most talented natives. Some managed to become Magus of the Sacred Flame as well. It was a 4-Star Profession that was gifted to those devoted to the Sacred Flame, the never-extinguishing flame that resided in the Zentika Empire's capital.
Choosing one of those occupations boosted their control and affinity toward fire greatly. However, it didn't improve their physical strength a lot. That was usually not necessary, either way. All they had to do was unleash their blazing flames to burn their enemies to cinder. What else would they need?
To their misery, that was not enough against Hiraku. His body might be coated in durable bark and vines as he transformed into the Titan of the Greater Nature Spirit, but that didn't mean he was helpless against flames. Hiraku's natural elemental resistance was already great due to the choice of his body refinement technique. However, there was more.
Hiraku's body was covered in the sheen of two Noble Elementals' Elemental Power. His body had been coated in soil by the Earthen Baron Elemental, he was shrouded in water from the Aqueous Baroness Elemental, and strong gales shrouded him, repelling a minority of the flames that ought to reach him.
Frederik conjured the gales to support his friend, who barged through the enemy rows with great strength and not an ounce of hesitation. Almost 10 Soultraits to enhance his prowess and block ailments and Curses from other Soultraits had been applied to his body. But that was not all. He had been further enhanced by the Holy Knights' formation.
The Immortal Knight lost the Lesser Behemoth as their scapegoat, but they found a much better target to protect; Hiraku.
'What a freak,' Michael murmured, the corner of his lips curling upward as he witnessed the tremendous force behind Hiraku's attacks.
He manifested Armaments out of thin air and utilized them to counter his enemies' attacks easily. Once he had taken advantage of his enemies, Hiraku changed from subtle defending against them into aggressive attacks.
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His attacks were hard to block and even harder to predict. He weaved through the rows of enemies as if he wasn't a ten- meter-tall giant. His kill-count was incredible. He was only second to Michael.
Michael was glad to have Hiraku on his side. The casualties on their side would have been much worse without Hiraku's help. His colossal form kept the morale high and the tension as low as possible. Hiraku never faltered and he advanced swiftly, changing his targets when he perceived a tiny opening.
It was a great advantage that he obtained energy and lifeforce from the Greater Nature Spirit. However, the toll on his Soul, Body, and Mind couldn't be underestimated.
After battling for several hours without a break he was on the verge of death as well.
Fortunately, everyone showed signs of getting tired.
'How much longer can you afford to push forward?' Michael wondered, his eyes flicking to the Lionheart Commanders and their tired-out Soldiers.
He licked his lips and glanced at Stinger, who created his move the moment he brought attention that Michael glanced at him.
