NOVPUB
Chapter 179: The Condition of the Battlefield
As Aldrian’s group traveled back to the royal capital in the carriage, he sent a voice transmission to the First and Second Finger.
"First Finger, Second Finger, I want both of you to go to the Doria Empire and gather information about the battlefield on the northwest side of the empire, especially within the territory of the Rivas Grand Duchy. Prioritize the status of the Rivas family’s successor, Irene Rivas, and report back to me as soon as you have the information. Go!"
"Yes, Master," they answered simultaneously. They felt puzzled by this new order, as their master’s sudden interest in the Doria Empire and the devils’ war was unexpected, however, they still obeyed Aldrian’s order without needing to ask why. They hadn’t heard what Aldrian had discussed with his group in his room, as he had blocked the conversation from reaching outside, leaving them unaware of its contents.
After giving orders to the two Fingers, Aldrian then sent a voice transmission to Arson Vuran.
"What is it, Master?" Arson’s voice resonated within Aldrian’s mind.
"Send your other assassins to the Doria Empire. Have them kill as many devils as possible, establish an intelligence network, and keep an eye on any nobles who seem to have a grudge against the Rivas family. Report any important information about those families to me," Aldrian replied.
Arson Vuran was momentarily stunned, wondering why his master wanted to involve himself in the war and the affairs of the Doria Empire’s nobles, but he still answered Aldrian’s order.
"As you wish, Master." After that, Aldrian cut off the connection. With his own eyes and ears in the Doria Empire, anything he needed to accomplish there would become much easier.
After a short journey from their inn to the royal palace, they arrived and were promptly led to the royal family’s private teleportation station. King Douwin, Mardred, and Duke Valiard were already waiting for them. Duke Valiard had been informed after Aldrian exited the royal family’s secret realm, so he also went to inspect the sword. Upon hearing that Aldrian intended to go to the Doria Empire to involve himself in the war, he also came to see him off.
As one of the few who knew the truth about Aldrian’s origin, Duke Valiard understood why Aldrian made this decision, so he didn’t ask him about it. However, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness. The only person he had ever taught blacksmithing was leaving. Though their time together had been short, Aldrian’s presence had already changed his life, and he had come to consider him a disciple.
Aldrian saw Duke Valiard smile at him and immediately bowed his head.
"Thank you for teaching me blacksmithing. I will never forget your generosity in allowing me to learn your techniques. You are the one who opened the path of blacksmithing to me and even let me learn the secret technique, ’Heaven’s Hammer of Creation.’ I will never forget it," Aldrian said.
Hearing Aldrian’s words and seeing him bow his head, Duke Valiard wanted to stop him, but before he could move, Aldrian spoke again.
"Master."
Duke Valiard was stunned for a moment, then he smiled—a genuine smile that everyone there could recognize as one of pride. How could he not be proud? Aldrian was someone whose name would undoubtedly resound across the continent in the future. That was their belief, and it was only a matter of time. As Aldrian’s master in blacksmithing, Duke Valiard had every reason to be proud. He would always remember that he had contributed to Aldrian’s development.
Even though they were not formally master and disciple, Aldrian’s voluntary call of "Master" was deeply touching to Duke Valiard. It showed that Aldrian truly considered him as his mentor.
"Be careful out there, young master. I hope you succeed in whatever you do," Duke Valiard said.
"Thank you." Aldrian then turned to look at King Douwin and Mardred.
"Until next time, Your Majesty, Sir Mardred," Aldrian said, and both responded with a nod. Without hesitation, he stepped into the teleportation portal, followed by Xin Haotian and the others. The three dwarves could only imagine the kind of chaos that would be unleashed by Aldrian’s appearance on the northern battlefield.
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As Aldrian’s group stepped into the teleportation portal, the situation on the northern battlefield, along the border of the Doria Empire, was deteriorating. Much of the northern border of the Doria Empire was now under the devils’ control, forcing local nobles to evacuate civilians deeper into the empire’s territory. In the northeastern part of the empire, the situation was the most dire. This was where the devils had successfully breached the empire’s defenses, advancing more than 800 kilometers from the initial border.
The smell of blood, the cries and shrieking voices of pain, and the countless corpses scattered everywhere had become the new normal. The area had turned into a hellish landscape. As the situation worsened in the northeastern region, the imperial family sent reinforcements to assist the local nobles in stabilizing the situation. However, the devils had their own plans. Using their overwhelming numbers and great strength, they rendered the incoming reinforcements ineffective.
There were even reports that the devils had dispatched members of the Seven Deadly Sins to the battlefield, causing the Doria Empire to suffer significant losses. In response, the Durand imperial family, as the rulers of the Doria Empire, announced to the rest of the empire’s nobles to prepare for deployment if needed. Should the situation worsen, they would be required to assist the northern frontline.
However, not all of the border was easily breached by the devils. The northwestern region, where Grand Duke Rivas resided, proved difficult for the devils to conquer. Although they had started to gain momentum by pushing the Rivas family soldiers deeper into the territory, their progress was so slow that it could be said the devils had achieved little on the northwestern front.
However, with the appearance of one of the Seven Deadly Sins, the situation began to lean in favor of the devils. The Rivas family was losing ground at a faster pace, and they were forced to abandon some areas to avoid being surrounded by the devils for a pincers attack. The conclusion was clear: the situation had become increasingly unfavorable for the Doria Empire.
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At this time, in one part of the Rivas Grand Duchy where the battle raged, the air was filled with the sound of war cries. Various elemental techniques were unleashed by both sides, but it was clear that the devils fought like rabid beasts. With their powerful bodies, they charged at the Rivas family cultivators, unleashing their own devastating techniques. They seemed unbothered by their wounds, caring little for their own lives even if struck by the enemy’s attacks.
The Rivas family had been in turmoil because of this. They knew that the devils, especially those of lower cultivation, were often uncontrollable due to their inability to manage the negative energy when cultivating the devil cultivation techniques. However, this time, their madness seemed to reach a new level. They fought like ferocious beasts, indifferent to their own lives. With their overwhelming numbers, they had become a terrifying force to be reckoned with.
BOOM!
"Keep unleashing your area-of-effect techniques! We need to hold them here, or we’ll lose another sector! We have to secure this area until the town’s evacuation is complete!" shouted one of the field commanders of the Rivas family.
"Damn you evil entities, die!"
"Hold your line! Don’t let the devils break through!"
Whoossshh
"Argghh!"
The sounds of battle and destruction echoed everywhere, but the devils remained relentless. They unleashed their techniques while charging at the defense line with brutal force.
"Die, you weaklings!" one of the devils roared, launching a fire-element attack. A massive pillar of flame erupted, engulfing several cultivators and reducing them to ashes. Beside him, another devil wielded a sword, moving with lightning speed as he charged toward the defense line.
"They’re members of the Seven Devils of Disaster! Activate the formation!" the commander shouted.
The moment he gave the order, the ground trembled, becoming soft and mushy, causing the devil with the sword to almost lose his footing. The cultivators of the Rivas family seized the opportunity and immediately unleashed their techniques. However, they were stunned when the devil, with nimble movements, stepped on the mushy ground as if walking on air. With incredible speed, he dodged their attacks and reached the defense line, where he began slaughtering the cultivators.
"Shit! Retreat 500 meters!" the commander shouted, but he froze in shock as a devil suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Got you!" the devil sneered, his smile twisted and with a swift motion, he slashed at the commander’s head with his hand, now shaped like a fiery blade. But before the blade could decapitate the commander, his hand was suddenly trapped by ice walls that erupted from the ground, halting his strike. The commander quickly retreated, silently thanking the heavens for his narrow escape. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
The devil stared at his hand, now encased in ice, and with a wave of his hand, he shattered the ice wall. His gaze then turned to the beautiful woman standing not far from him.
"The Blizzard Witch," he muttered.
